Many keen athletes will eventually use their sporting prowess to raise cash for a good cause. Each week hundreds of people walk, run, swim or row in aid of charity and the funds they raise go a long way to furthering the recipients' efforts.

Why indoor rowing?

Indoor rowing is a great sport for charity endeavours as it is challenging, meaning people will really earn any money they raise and also lends itself to a variety of challenges. For example, people can set themselves a target distance to cover, row for a sponsored length of time or see if they can row a set length in a limited time period.

One popular option is for people to row a set distance which people are able to visualise easily, for example, the distance between John O'Groats and Lands End or the number of miles between two local landmarks.

As indoor rowers are fairly easy to transport it is also possible to set them up and conduct the challenge almost anywhere, from a local shopping centre or gym to the charity's headquarters, meaning the rower will attract more attention and hopefully more donations.

It is also easy for indoor rowers to team up for events, for example a group of rowers could race one another over a set distance, with each participant trying to raise funds, or a team could work together to row a combined distance.

Personal benefits of charity rows

While doing your bit for something you think is worthwhile and raising the profile of the beneficiary is obviously the best bit about any charity effort, there are numerous other benefits of setting yourself the task of completing an indoor rowing charity challenge.

Firstly, having a goal to work towards is a great motivator as people need to ensure they will be able to complete whatever challenge they set themselves in order to raise as much cash as possible. It is best to schedule charity rows well in advance to ensure there is enough time to gather sponsorship and donations and during this period preparing for the challenge will give people something to focus on.

Secondly, indoor rowing for charity will help raise the profile of the sport immensely and may encourage anyone sponsoring a participant or watching the event itself to give it a go.

Finally, doing something good for charity and getting involved with an important cause is good for personal growth and is sure to give anyone participating in the effort a good feeling about themselves!

How to get started

The first thing anyone attempting a charity row needs to decide is who to raise money for. People can select a charity they have a personal connection or involvement with, one that has helped one of their loved ones or simply one which they have heard is in need of some extra funds. People can also raise cash for groups which are hoping to buy something specific, for example a school which needs new sports equipment.

The next step is deciding what sort of challenge to set yourself. It is important to attempt something ambitious, which will impress people and encourage them to sponsor you, but attainable so you can be sure of meeting your target. Once you have selected a challenge it is important to embark on a suitable training programme to ensure you are thoroughly prepared and in peak condition.

Finally, you must be certain to publicise your charity indoor row so you can raise as much cash as possible. Set up Just Giving and Facebook pages where people are able to find out more information and sponsor you and make sure you never leave the house without a sponsorship form in your pocket. It can also be worthwhile getting local media involved to ensure maximum coverage.